NCAA Division III playoffs: Linfield 42, Cal Lutheran 26

McMINNVILLE -- There was no lack of motivation for Linfield on Saturday in its NCAA Division III playoff opener.

The No. 8 Wildcats (9-1), looking to avenge their only loss of the regular season, used a balanced performance to defeat No. 12 Cal Lutheran (8-2) 42-26 at Maxwell Field. Cal Lutheran defeated Linfield 47-42 in the season opener on Sept. 11.

"It felt good to get revenge on these guys," said senior defensive end Eric Hedin, who became the school's single-season record holder in sacks (20) with three in the game. "We were definitely more motivated ... our whole team was ready to play today."

The Wildcats showed just how much has changed since that first meeting.

Linfield limited Cal Lutheran to just 73 yards rushing on Saturday. The Kingsmen, led by 202 yards from running back Daniel Mosier, had 252 rushing yards in the season opener. Cal Lutheran also took advantage of three Linfield turnovers while the Wildcats committed just one on Saturday.

"That was our first time playing our up-tempo style," Smith said. "We were much better at that today."

Linfield made sure to put Cal Lutheran away early in the second half. After blowing a 28-7 halftime lead in the season opener, Linfield scored on its final drive of the first half and on its first two drives of the second half to turn a 14-12 lead into a 35-12 advantage.

Boehme was efficient in directing the Linfield offense. He finished 21 of 34 for 281 yards and two touchdowns to 6-foot-6 wide receiver Buddy Saxon. Boehme's 27-yard pass to Saxon in the corner of the end zone in the first quarter gave Linfield a 7-6 lead and the Wildcats would not trail again.

"He's as good as anyone in the country," Cal Lutheran coach Ben McEnroe said of Boehme.

Linfield senior running back Simon Lamson gained 99 yards on the ground and had four touchdowns.

The connection between quarterback Jack Laudenslayer and sophomore wide receiver Eric Rodgers produced the majority of the Kingsmen's 394 yards of total offense. Rogers hauled in 11 catches for 216 yards, a school record. He had two first-half touchdowns, but it wasn't enough as the Kingsmen saw their season end against the Wildcats for the second consecutive year.

Linfield, which has won its past six playoff openers dating to 2000, advances to play No. 1 seed St. Thomas next Saturday at 10 a.m. PST in St. Paul Minn. St. Thomas defeated Benedictine 57-10 on Saturday.

In the only meeting between the two schools, the Wildcats beat St. Thomas 31-20 at home in the third game of the 2009 playoffs.

"I was asked a lot in the offseason about teams who could make a push to the title game... St. Thomas is one of those teams," Smith said.